POLK COUNTY, Fla. – NOTE: The above video features violence and strong language and may be disturbing to some viewers.
A Polk County woman was arrested Wednesday for both inciting a fight between her daughter and another teenage girl and "coaching" her daughter during the fight, according to officials from the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Giselle Reyes Felix, 36, was arrested on charges of child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Her 16-year-old daughter, who is accused of attacking the 17-year-old victim and stomping on her head multiple times, was charged with misdemeanor battery.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the fight stemmed from Felix's daughter not being invited to a party thrown by the victim. He said Felix's daughter showed up anyway and was asked to leave, which began a feud over social media.
That feud escalated into Felix taking her daughter to the victim's bus stop to wait in anticipation of the fight, according to Judd.
“You’re supposed to be the adult. You’re supposed to be the girl’s mother,” Judd said. “She had no regard for this young lady just walking down the street trying to go home.”
Judd said Felix also brought another person along solely to record a video of the fight. He said that the Sheriff's Office cannot legally arrest the videographer but would do so if they could.
In the video, Felix can be heard telling her daughter to "hit her" while the two girls fight." Felix, whose face is clearly visible, also called the victim an expletive while circling the two girls as they threw punches.
“So what are you going to do with the video?" Judd said. "Are you going to wrap it up and give it to your daughter with a set of boxing gloves for Christmas? Are you kidding me?”
A neighbor was able to temporarily stop the fight, according to Judd. He said Felix then continued to encourage her daughter to attack the victim, which she eventually did, causing the fight to resume.
“This is a parent. I want to say ‘Giselle, what are you thinking, girl? Are you just nuts?'" Judd said.
According to a news release, neither of the girls suffered serious injuries. The release states that Felix's daughter stomped on the victim's head when she fell down.
Judd said both Felix and her daughter would be facing much more severe charges, like felony murder, had they seriously injured the victim.
Felix is being held in the Polk County Jail. She's eligible for bond, though no amount has been posted on the jail's website.